Short Summary

Israel and Egypt are close to agreement on new droop positions in the Sinai desert, according to United States Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger, who is mediating in the negotiations.

Description

Israel and Egypt are close to agreement on new droop positions in the Sinai desert, according to United States Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger, who is mediating in the negotiations. He said an agreement could be reached by the weekend.

After talks with Egyptian President Sadat earlier on Tuesday (26 August) Dr. Kissinger flew back to Jerusalem to discuss with Israeli negotiators their views on Egypt's latest proposals for an interim agreement.

Dr. Kissinger will then return to Alexandria to give the Israeli views to Mr. Sadat.

Dr. Kissinger said he believed both israel and Egypt understood their obligations, but there could be difficulty in setting down the appropriate language to reflect this.

The two sides have to find the words setting out the agreement that will not upset the Israeli government's domestic opponents on one hand and Egypt's Arab allies on the other.

Both countries are making the sort of concessions that eluded Dr. Kissinger on his unsuccessful Middle East peace mission last March.

Israel has agreed that Egyptian soldiers will occupy some of the territory in Sinai Israel has relinquished after previously insisting that such territory should be demilitarised the turned over to the United Nations.